Boland ready to level up at SASHOC National Week
“Coming second best” and “almost winning it” have been the stories for the Boland u18A team at the past two SASHOC National Weeks.
In 2023, they narrowly missed out on a bronze medal after going down 0-1 against KZN Coastal A. A year later, they claimed the silver medals after falling 2-3 to Western Province in the final.
While there was a massive improvement in 2024, Boland is aiming to take it up a notch in 2025 and finally break their inter-provincial title drought.
The tournament runs from 30 June to 5 July at Maritzburg College.
The team, consisting of players from the top schools around the Boland region, will be led by head coach Dewald Raath. He’s taken over from the experienced Jacques Grobler, and will be assisted by Mick Ouwerkerk, with Davin Titus the team manager.
That trio, which has been entrusted to bring the silverware back to Boland, is trialled and tested. Last year, they guided the u16A Boland side to glory in Bloemfontein.
In an effort to replicate that triumph at u18 level, they’ve put together a strong 16-player squad, which features a whopping 10 players from Paul Roos Gimnasium (PRG).
Adam Leitch, who has struggled to crack the first-team nod for PRG, has, nonetheless, cracked the nod for the Boland u18A squad. He’s joined in the lineup by his Paul Roos teammates Callum van Oudtshoorn, captain Christo Swanepoel, Danesh Titus, goalkeeper Jeandre Cilliers, Logan Lackay, Matthew Cardoza, Reuben Gouws, Seth Paterson, and Tylor Carter.
Out of that group, only Swanepoel represented Boland last year, as did John Coetzee, from Paarl Gimnasium. Coetzee and Philip Barnard are the sole Paarl Gim reps in the side.
Parel Vallei (PV), after having only one player in the mix last year, has two in 2025. Luka Meets, who has been enjoying a superb season for the Somerset West school, has been drafted along with his PV teammate Luca Jordaan.
The lineup is completed by Milani Tisana, the sole player from Paarl Boys’ High, and Bukhosi Mapete, who hails from Worcester Gimnasium.
Boland has been drawn in Pool B and will face Western Province B, Northern Gauteng A, Southern Gauteng B, KZN Coastals A, and Southern Free State A.
They open their account against Western Province B on Wednesday, 30 July, at 13:10 on Pape’s Astro.
Boland u18A Team
Adam Lietch (Paul Roos Gimnasium), Bukhosi Mapete (Worcester Gimnasium), Callum van Oudtshoorn (Paul Roos Gimnasium), Christo Swanepoel (Paul Roos Gimnasium), Danesh Titus (Paul Roos Gimnasium), Jeandre Cilliers (Paul Roos Gimnasium), John Coetzee (Paarl Gimnasium), Logan Lackay (Paul Roos Gimnasium), Luca Jordaan (Parel Vallei High School). Luka Meets (Parel Vallei High School), Matthew Cardoza (Paul Roos Gimnasium), Milani Tisana (Paarl Boys’ High), Philip Barnard (Paarl Gimnasium), Reuben Gouws (Paul Roos Gimnasium), Seth Paterson (Paul Roos Gimnasium), Tylor Carter (Paul Roos Gimnasium).
Head Coach – Dewald Raath
Assistant Coach – Mick Ouwerkerk
Manager – Davin Titus
POOL FIXTURES
Monday, 30 June
13:10 – Boland A vs Western Province B
Tuesday, 1 July
07:30 – Boland A vs Northern Gauteng A
16:00 – Boland A vs Southern Gauteng B
Wednesday, 2 July
14:35 – Boland A vs KZN Coastal A
Thursday, 3 July
07:30 – Boland A vs Southern Free State A
